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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The top-paying city for this role might not be where you expect. The national median salary for Mobile Developers in 2026 is $139,667, with entry-level positions averaging $100,560 and senior roles reaching $198,327. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $254,400, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Mobile Developer falls within the Technology sector, specifically in Technology. The typical education path involves Bachelor's in CS. The career outlook? High demand. Work style is remote-eligible — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
$154,800 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Mobile Developer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $254,400 — $154,800 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($99,600). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. The gap between P10 and P90 shows the earning ceiling is high.
The three-tier salary picture for Mobile Developers in 2026: $100,560 at entry (P10), $139,667 at midpoint, and $198,327 at the senior end (P90). The state breakdown adds another layer. The $97,767 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $59,300 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $237,600, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $100,400. The $137,200 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Mobile Developer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $254,400 — $154,800 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($99,600). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Mobile Developer is $100,560, while senior-level (P90) earners average $198,327. That $97,767 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Mobile Developers at $168,570 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $148,200) is $20,370.
At the 90th percentile, Mobile Developers pull in an average of $198,327. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $100,560 | $139,667 | $198,327 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £60,297 | £83,746 | £118,919 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$78,160 | CA$108,555 | CA$154,148 |
| Australia | 13 | A$90,595 | A$125,827 | A$178,674 |
| Sweden | 24 | 570,662 kr | 792,586 kr | 1,125,473 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $121,371 | $168,570 | $239,370 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $117,288 | $162,900 | $231,318 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $116,640 | $162,000 | $230,040 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $108,000 | $150,000 | $213,000 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $106,704 | $148,200 | $210,444 |
| Washington | 8 | $104,652 | $145,350 | $206,397 |
| New York | 5 | $98,496 | $136,800 | $194,256 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $98,496 | $136,800 | $194,256 |
| Florida | 22 | $97,750 | $135,764 | $192,784 |
| Colorado | 11 | $96,061 | $133,418 | $189,454 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $95,904 | $133,200 | $189,144 |
| Nevada | 5 | $95,731 | $132,960 | $188,803 |
| Arizona | 12 | $95,256 | $132,300 | $187,866 |
| Oregon | 5 | $95,040 | $132,000 | $187,440 |
| Idaho | 3 | $94,752 | $131,600 | $186,872 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $94,003 | $130,560 | $185,395 |
| Utah | 4 | $93,744 | $130,200 | $184,884 |
| Virginia | 7 | $92,201 | $128,057 | $181,841 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $91,008 | $126,400 | $179,488 |
| Alaska | 1 | $90,720 | $126,000 | $178,920 |
| Illinois | 5 | $89,683 | $124,560 | $176,875 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $87,456 | $121,467 | $172,483 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $86,400 | $120,000 | $170,400 |
| Montana | 1 | $86,400 | $120,000 | $170,400 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $86,112 | $119,600 | $169,832 |
| Texas | 40 | $85,687 | $119,010 | $168,994 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $85,536 | $118,800 | $168,696 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $85,104 | $118,200 | $167,844 |
| Georgia | 6 | $84,816 | $117,800 | $167,276 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $84,672 | $117,600 | $166,992 |
| Kansas | 4 | $84,240 | $117,000 | $166,140 |
| Michigan | 6 | $83,952 | $116,600 | $165,572 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $82,944 | $115,200 | $163,584 |
| Maryland | 1 | $82,944 | $115,200 | $163,584 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $82,080 | $114,000 | $161,880 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $82,080 | $114,000 | $161,880 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $79,920 | $111,000 | $157,620 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $79,488 | $110,400 | $156,768 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $78,408 | $108,900 | $154,638 |
| Missouri | 4 | $78,408 | $108,900 | $154,638 |
| Alabama | 5 | $78,106 | $108,480 | $154,042 |
| Indiana | 3 | $76,896 | $106,800 | $151,656 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $76,896 | $106,800 | $151,656 |
| Iowa | 2 | $76,032 | $105,600 | $149,952 |
| Ohio | 6 | $75,888 | $105,400 | $149,668 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $72,576 | $100,800 | $143,136 |
The state salary map for Mobile Developers: California at $168,570, Massachusetts at $162,900, Hawaii at $162,000 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($100,800), Ohio ($105,400), Iowa ($105,600) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $67,770.
Raw salary rankings and cost-adjusted rankings tell different stories. After adjusting for local costs, Sunnyvale ($120,000 adjusted), Santa Clara ($120,000 adjusted), Irvine ($120,000 adjusted) lead the field. The takeaway: the highest nominal salary doesn't always deliver the best standard of living. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $254,400 | 212 | $120,000 | $141,688 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $237,600 | 198 | $120,000 | $134,104 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $220,800 | 184 | $120,000 | $126,200 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $217,200 | 181 | $120,000 | $124,506 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $213,600 | 178 | $120,000 | $122,812 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $212,400 | 177 | $120,000 | $122,248 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $212,400 | 177 | $120,000 | $122,248 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $207,600 | 173 | $120,000 | $119,989 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $207,600 | 173 | $120,000 | $119,989 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $202,800 | 169 | $120,000 | $117,731 |
The $97,767 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Mobile Developer career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Technology sector, high demand, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Mobile Developers is $139,667 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $100,560, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $198,327.
The highest-paying city for Mobile Developers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $254,400. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($254,400), Santa Clara ($237,600), Irvine ($220,800). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Mobile Developer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $99,600. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Mobile Developers (10th percentile) average $100,560 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $183,168. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Mobile Developers average $198,327 nationally — $97,767 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Mobile Developers can earn up to $361,248.
The top-paying states for Mobile Developers are California ($168,570 median), Massachusetts ($162,900 median), Hawaii ($162,000 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Mobile Developer involves Bachelor's in CS. The field is in the Technology sector (Technology), and the career outlook is high demand. Work style is typically remote-eligible.
With a national median of $139,667 and representation across 288 metro areas, Mobile Developer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $97,767 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.